Flowers committing GBH during rugby match.

[GrumpyGregry]

Police now 'looking into it'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/29593523

Nothing may come of that, but no harm in reminding sportsmen the laws of the land are not suspended when they cross the white line.

Actually they are.

 

[Pale Rider]

Actually they are.

No, just often ignored/not enforced - same as everywhere else.

 

[ColinJ]

That's all right then... when I played rugby, we didn't try to injure each other, we can't have been enjoying ourselves or having enough fun.

I was having fun playing rugby as a teenager until some cowardly toerag in the other team reached under and punched me in the face in a scrum. The red mist descended upon me when they laughed at my bleeding nose and I subsequently flattened half their team as they attempted to stop me on the way to scoring my one and only try. It seemed that the only way I could play well was to play very hard and I didn't enjoy that gladiatorial feeling so I gave it up!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

No, just often ignored/not enforced - same as everywhere else.

Fairly sure the courts have established a principle of consent that applies when you tread on the park. Albeit the applicability seems to vary from case to case.

A rugby tackle is an assault. Rugby tackle someone in a car park and you'll get nicked; do it at 14:35 on the pitch and all is good.

This makes for an interesting read http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/articles/crossing_the_line_-_when_sport_becomes_a_crime_speech/

 

[GrumpyGregry]

as does this http://www.inbrief.co.uk/sports-law/criminal-offences-in-sporting-contest.htm

"In my day" which ended with a brain injury that resulted from a piece of foul play ( someone stamped repeatedly on my head whilst I was trapped in pile-up) punching a fellow forward in the tight was regarded as a fairly minor breach of the laws of rugby. In fact as 4 or 5 it was my job to 'enforce' and protect my pals which did sometimes mean getting their retaliation in first.

Times have changed. Probably for the better.

 

[Beebo]

. In fact as 4 or 5 it was my job to 'enforce' and protect my pals which did sometimes mean getting their retaliation in first.
.

I played loose head prop for 20 years, so punches in the face from second rows were not an unexpected occurence, but you cant get too much force behind a punch in the scrum so they were more rabbit punches than anything else.
My biggest fear was always a collapsed scrum, especially when I was deputising at tight head or hooker.

 

[swee'pea99]

My Dad, who grew up as a prop in NZ, told me that it was standard practice to pick up a handful of mud and rub it forcefully in the eyes of an opponent while his head was locked down.

 

[Dayvo]

And here's the ban: 6 months.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/29612687

 

[subaqua]

fair ban . wonder if he will appeal or just suck it up like he should

 

[Hugo15]

Wigan have said that there will be no appeal.

I watched the incident about a dozen times today. It looks much worse in super slow mo than it does in real time. While I don't condone Flower's I don't agreed with the "trial by media" that seems to have gone. A six month ban feels about right.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Wigan's statements bring the club credit.

Meanwhile Manc Plod are tweeting about

something far more important?

 

[david k]

I was appalled by Flower's behaviour but even more appalled by Tweets from joey Barton and Martin Offiah appearing to show sympathy for Flower.

I'd like his thuggery to result in a three year ban from the game.

well said